Jean-Félix-Albert-Marie Vilnet

Jean -Félix- Albert -Marie Vilnet, short Jean Vilnet, ( born April 8, 1922 in Chaumont, France, † 23 January 2013) was Bishop of Lille.

Life

Jean Vilnet studied at the seminary of Langres and in Paris. He received his doctorate at the Institut Catholique de Paris and completed a diploma course at the École pratique des hautes études. He was then a doctorate in Rome in Biblical Studies and completed his training in 1949 with a degree in canon law in Lyon. On October 22, 1944 received the ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of Langres. From 1949 to 1957 he was professor of theology at the Theological School of Langres, from 1957 to 1964 in Châlons -sur- Marne.

In 1964 he was called by Pope Paul VI. appointed bishop of the Diocese of Saint- Dié. He received his episcopal consecration on 13 December 1964, the Bishop of Langres, Alfred Joseph Atton; Co-consecrators were the Bishop of Montauban, Louis -Marie- Joseph de Courreges d' Ustou, and the Bishop of Châlons, René- Joseph Piérard. In 1983 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Bishop of Lille. His resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

Vilnet took part in the third and fourth sessions of the Second Vatican Council. He was from 1981 to 1987 chaired the Bishops' Conference of France from 1987 to 1993 he was head of the Commission for Christian Unity. He was considered an important figure of the Roman Catholic Church in France.

Jean Vilnet was an officer of the Legion of Honour.